Spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch

ABSTRACT

A pouch adapted to contain a fluent material has a fitting having a base fitted hermetically to the pouch and having a surface exposed in the pouch. A tubular spout projects outward from the base and forms with the base a throughgoing passage opening into the pouch and having an inner surface. A liner of a barrier material covers both of the surfaces. A layer of plastic covers inner surfaces of the liner. This layer of plastic can be unitary with the base and spout so that the liner is imbedded in the base and spout, or a separate not unitary piece fitted over the liner to the fitting. Normally the liner is unitarily formed of one piece, and is in fact a generally T-shaped body like the combined spout and base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible pouch intended to hold a fluent product. More particularly this invention concerns a drink pouch with a built-in spout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is standard to package fluent materials, in particular comestible liquids, in flexible pouches that typically are made of a pair of welded-together foils. At one edge there is a capped spout fitting forming an outlet through which the liquid can be withdrawn.

When used with a comestible liquid, e.g. fruit juice, the walls of the pouch are formed of plastic, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, laminated with some substance, typically a metal like aluminum, that forms an impervious layer preventing the liquid from soaking into the plastic and preventing any of the constituents of the plastic from leaching into the liquid.

The spout fitting is at its simplest a molded plastic element that has a boat-shaped base forming a pair of outwardly convex side faces meeting at ends at points and to which the inner faces of the two panels forming the bag are laminated. Projecting from this base is a tubular spout, and a passage extends through the spout and base and has an inner end inside the pouch and an outer end. A removable cap covers this outer end until the pouch contents are to be poured or sucked out.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch.

Another object is the provision of such an improved spout fitting for liquid-containing pouch that has certain advantages over the prior-art structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pouch adapted to contain a fluent material has a fitting having a base fitted hermetically to the pouch and having a surface exposed in the pouch. A tubular spout projects outward from the base and forms with the base a throughgoing passage opening into the pouch and having an inner surface. According to the invention a liner of a barrier material covers both of the surfaces.

The liner therefore forms a barrier and prevents, for instance, any plasticizer from the plastic spout fitting from leaching into the contents of the pouch. According to the invention a layer of plastic covers inner surfaces of the liner. This layer of plastic can be unitary with the base and spout so that the liner is imbedded in the base and spout, or a separate not unitary piece fitted over the liner to the fitting. Normally the liner is unitarily formed of one piece, and is in fact a generally T-shaped body like the combined spout and base.

Furthermore according to the invention a frangible layer of barrier material covers an outer end of the passage on the spout. This frangible layer contacts the liner and is typically formed with a weakening line. It can also be a foil. Either way, the foil of the frangible layer is sealed over the outer end of the passage.

In accordance with the invention the spout can be formed with an external screwthread for holding an internally threaded cap fittable over the spout. This cap can be formed with an inwardly extending projection that can be forced through the frangible layer mentioned above. Normally in this case the cap has an end wall formed with the projection, which has a point that can pierce the foil. The cap can also be associated with a tamper-indicating ring surrounding the spout and a frangible connection between the ring and cap. In fact the tamper ring can serve to hold the pointed projection of the cap out of engagement with the foil, so that only after the tamper ring is broken off the cap and taken off the spout can the cap be screwed down far enough to pierce the barrier foil.

The barrier material in accordance with the invention can be metal, for example aluminum. It can also be a plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, it being understood that any feature described with reference to one embodiment of the invention can be used where possible with any other embodiment and that reference numerals or letters not specifically mentioned with reference to one figure but identical to those of another refer to structure that is functionally if not structurally identical. In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is an axial section through a drink-pouch spout fitting according to the invention in closed original condition;

FIG. 2 is a view along line II-II of FIG. 1 also showing part of the drink pouch;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the invention in closed original condition;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3, but in closed condition after opening;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 3 of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 5 of the third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 5 of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 3 of a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a view like FIG. 2 taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 14.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a spout fitting according to the invention basically has a cylindrically tubular spout 1 centered on an axis A, forming an axially throughgoing cylindrical passage 2, and formed unitarily with a boat-shaped base 3 having outwardly convex outer faces 4 to which are welded inner faces of side panels of a drink pouch 5. An outer screwthread 12 on the base 1 can mate with an inner screwthread 14 of a cap 13 that can close the outer end of the passage 2. The spout 1 and its unitary base 3 and the cap 13 are formed of an inexpensive and durable synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. These plastics are not barrier materials and often contain plasticizers that could leach into any contents of the pouch 5.

According to the invention this problem is solved by providing a liner 7 either of a metallic foil, e.g. of aluminum, or a plastic, e.g. a polyamide, that can function as a barrier. This liner 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in fact T-shaped and has a tubular part extending the full length of and fitting in the spout 1 and a flat base part forming an inner surface 6 exposed in the pouch 5. It can also be a metal/plastic laminate forming a barrier.

Here also the outer end of the passage 2 over both the liner 7 and spout 1 is covered by a barrier foil 11, typically aluminum, that can be pierced to gain access to the pouch contents, and that serves as a tamper indicator.

In FIGS. 3 through 5 the outer end of the spout part of the liner 7 is closed by a wall 9 having a center part 9 a defined by a parting groove 10. The cap 13 is connected at a break line 17 to a tamper ring 16 and has a center point 15. For use the cap 13 is first unscrewed so that the tamper ring 16 can be removed. Then the cap 13 is screwed back on so that its point 15 breaks out the center part 9 a to push it inward into a plurality of segments when the parting groove 10 is star-shaped as shown in FIG. 5. The cap 13 can then be removed and the contents of the pouch 5 accessed, for instance by squeezing them out of the pouch 5, by sucking them out, or by inserting a straw through the passage 2.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 8, and 12 and 13 the barrier liner 7 can be covered internally by an inner layer 8 of plastic. In FIGS. 14 and 15 the liner 7 is actually imbedded in a plastic body that unitarily forms the spout 1, base 3, and liner 8.

The embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 11 has a liner 7 and a foil 11. 

1. In combination with a pouch adapted to contain a fluent material, a fitting comprising: a base fitted hermetically to the pouch and having a surface exposed in the pouch; a tubular spout projecting outward from the base, the spout and base forming a throughgoing passage opening into the pouch and having an inner surface; and a liner of a barrier material covering both of the surfaces.
 2. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1, further comprising a layer of plastic covering inner surfaces of the liner.
 3. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 2 wherein the plastic layer is unitary with the base and spout, whereby the liner is imbedded in the base and spout.
 4. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 2 wherein the plastic layer is not unitary with the base or spout.
 5. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the liner is unitarily formed of one piece.
 6. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1, further comprising a frangible layer of barrier material covering an outer end of the passage on the spout.
 7. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible layer contacts the liner.
 8. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible layer is formed with a weakening line.
 9. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 6 wherein the frangible layer is a foil.
 10. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 9 wherein the foil of the frangible layer is sealed over the outer end of the passage.
 11. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the spout is formed with an external screwthread, the fitting further comprising an internally threaded cap fittable over the spout.
 12. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 11, further comprising a frangible layer of barrier material covering an outer end of the passage on the spout, the cap being formed with an inwardly extending projection that can be forced through the frangible layer.
 13. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 12 wherein the cap has an end wall formed with the projection.
 14. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 11, further comprising a tamper-indicating ring surrounding the spout; and a frangible connection between the ring and cap.
 15. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the barrier material is metal.
 16. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 15 wherein the metal is aluminum.
 17. The pouch spout fitting defined in claim 1 wherein the barrier material is a plastic. 